Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 471: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the capacity available for mechanical and biological treatment of municipal waste; the expected capacity by 2010, and by 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41195/08]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 472: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the volume of municipal waste being recycled; the percentage of municipal waste this represents; the amount he expects this to increase by 2010 and by 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41196/08]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 473: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the capacity of waste he expects to require thermal treatment by 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41197/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 471 to 473, inclusive, together.

The Programme for Government signalled the development of waste and resource policy in the direction of sustainability and, in particular, to move away from mass burn incineration towards alternative technologies. Arising from a commitment in the Programme, a major international review of waste management strategy is now underway. This will inform the Government's approach to waste prevention and minimisation and to diversion of waste from landfill. This review will examine, in particular, the emergence of new technologies in waste management, particularly those for the mechanical and biological treatment of waste, which can reduce the need for incineration or landfill.

The Government is acutely conscious of the very real and imminent challenge posed for Ireland by the EU Landfill Directive. To meet our obligations under this Directive will require a doubling of the amount of biodegradable waste diverted away from landfill by 2010. It is necessary to accelerate the move away from landfill quite dramatically, to examine all the technologies that can contribute to this and to regulate the sector in a manner which supports optimal environmental performance at minimum cost. The review is not just about technology. Its terms of reference are deliberately broad so as to promote a fundamental review of the legal, institutional and financial approach to waste management.

Inaction is not an option and the approach reflected in the current waste management plans, while facilitating some progress, is not going far enough fast enough. Ireland needs to pursue the most innovative solutions available and applied internationally, so as to move from being an under achiever to world class standard and to a position of leadership rather than struggling to meet EU targets, as at present.

Undue emphasis on incineration as the cornerstone of waste management policy is detrimental to the development of alternative solutions. The review may well indicate some residual role for thermal treatment in our future waste management strategy but I do not envisage it being on anything like the scale that was previously planned.

The National Waste Report, produced annually by the EPA, indicates 36.1% of municipal waste was recycled in 2006. It anticipated that this may rise to 40% in 2010 and 50% in 2016.

Further data available to my Department from the National Waste Report were used to extrapolate that by 2016, and having met EU landfill diversion targets, the volume of waste requiring further treatment could potentially be reduced to some 400,000 tonnes provided that sufficient capacity for the mechanical and biological treatment of waste can be developed in that timeframe.